Midnight Cowboy

NC-17

5/25/19691h 53m

Premiere Release (US)

~ For those who have never seen it and those who have never forgotten it. ~

Overview:

Joe Buck is a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy New York City women; he finds a companion in Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo, an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida.

Director:

John Schlesinger

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$3,600,000.00

Revenue:

$44,785,053.00

Key words:

new york city
friendship
prostitute
rape
based on novel or book
shower
texas
hustler
homelessness
rape of a male
male homosexuality
male prostitution
fish out of water
gang rape
cynical
lgbt
male bonding
polio
1960s
anxious
cautionary
provocative

Cast

Jon Voight

~ as ~

Joe Buck

Dustin Hoffman

~ as ~

Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo

Sylvia Miles

~ as ~

Cass

John McGiver

~ as ~

Mr. O'Daniel

Brenda Vaccaro

~ as ~

Shirley

Barnard Hughes

~ as ~

Towny

Ruth White

~ as ~

Sally Buck

Jennifer Salt

~ as ~

Annie

Gilman Rankin

~ as ~

Woodsy Niles

Gary Owens

~ as ~

Little Joe

View full cast & crew

Reviews (3)

PK
Potential Kermode
Written 8 year(s) ago
8
"I'm walking here! I'm walking here!" Shuffling, perhaps.

One can always count on Hoffman and his ability to absorb the character he is portraying with such ease. He has a knack at portraying that deep, bronchial coughing schtick. When watching, I had to wear a surgical mask - just in case.

Voight, as usual, is magnificent as the innocent amongst the scum. Watching this wide eyed lone ranger slowly losing the tassels from his jacket is a deeply moving experience.

A word of warning, you may want to use antibacterial wipes on your tv screen after watching Hoffman here. One cannot be too careful.
- Potential Kermode
CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
7
This is certainly my favourite role from Dustin Hoffman as he turns in an outstanding performance as "Ratso". He hooks up with the dapper, but out of his depth cowboy "Buck" who arrives in New York all set to be a hustler, but ends up paying his first client for the sex she's supposed to pay him for! Initially, "Ratso" fleeces this gullible guy too, but gradually the two start to depend on one and other - which is as well for "Ratso" who is clearly not long for this world. His persistent cough is being worsened by the squalid conditions in which he, and latterly, "Buck" have to live and by their poverty row existence. This is a great story and John Schlesinger tells it with some panache. The relationship between the two men is honest and decent, even though that attribute could hardly be said to apply to either of them when it comes to anyone else: "Ratso" would probably have hustled his own grandmother given the chance. Their bond feels real, plausible - unsentimental and convincing; and the Waldo Salt screenplay ensures that the dialogue - though frequently quite sparing - is both poignant and humorous.
r96sk
Written 5 month(s) ago
9
'Midnight Cowboy' is a beauty. It's one I've seen mentioned positively online many times down the years, especially on those four favourites videos that Letterboxd do with well known folk. Despite that I knew nothing coming in, which - as always - is the best way to view a flick.

Dustin Hoffman's involvement was all that I did know heading into it, I wasn't even sure it was Jon Voight as the main guy until he started scowling his face - a distinctive look! I actually only know of him in film terms from 2003's 'Holes', he is memorable in that classic.

In this, Voight is just as excelllent as Hoffman. They make for a fantastic pairing, I did thoroughly enjoy seeing their friendship build and build; even if it made the obvious, overhanging conclusion more and more saddening. Credit is due for the bit part actors in this, as well.

Music-wise this is top notch too, even if that recognisable Harry Nilsson track is a touch overused. Away from that, I didn't actually know the "I'm walkin' here" quote came from this movie (I'm terrible with film quotes, clearly), though of course pretty cool to see it pop up unexpectedly.